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Comments
BTW, if there were inflation, the finsky would be worth less than a quarter pounder. The fact that you can now get cheese for the same money means that the finsky has appreciated against the dollar and is worth more. It's a sure sign that all is well in your neck of the woods (literally)
Hey, I asked about your recommendation on a helmet for autocrossing. Maybe I missed your response but I don't recall seeing any. Or maybe I should ask the serious questions first before I start throwing jokes at you so I can still get you in a coherent state
The armrest is debatable. It covers one of the cup holders, but if you are single. Then this is not an issue. It also covers the coin holder, more hassle when tossing coins on the tollway. Personally, I like gimmicks.
You have a point on the trim. The silver does look good. I was disappointed then the red leather was dropped. I wanted a black exterior with red interior with the intention of buying the red trim parts in Germany. My dreams were dashed. I wish they had the individual program in the US. I would definitely get something more unique. Sorry for dreaming a little.
Be sure to try on several different brands and models for best fit. Even two different models from the same manufacturer may fit differently. When new, the helmet should be snug (not tight!) and when buckled you shouldn't be able to pull it over your head when grabbed at the back and pulled upwards. Bypass any helmet that puts too much pressure on your temples.
computer: i never feel the need to know - the knowledge of 20 mpg does not make the car running any better miledge or worse. but it's just me - i just want to enjoy the drive :->
Best Regards,
Shipo
Best Regards,
Shipo
Another thing to check is how well you fit in your car with the helmet on.
We love it. We got the Oxford Green 2, natural brown leather, wood, SP, CWP, and I wanted the PP, but that didn't happen. So I'm stuck with no hole in the roof and no power seats.
Tell us about your configuration.
I'm hoping to have pics of mine soon. I have a photographer friend that does car photos (REALLY NICE ONES) on the side, so I'm hoping to have him do that pretty soon.
Paul
The 2nd generation G20, out in MY '99 failed to build on the former platform, no 6 cyl engine and a bogus non-independent el cheapo beam axle. Looks like Infiniti has fixed all that and then some with the new G35. Can't wait to see the 6-speed manual sedan and coupe G35s!
A while back I asked if anyone knew if it was ok to slap a coat of Klasse all-in-one on the car when it's new. I had heard that the paint should "set" for a few months first. Dealer's eyes glazed over when I asked. Does anyone out there know?
Any opinions on this? Does it make a difference whether the trans is auto or stick? I take some comfort in knowing that the BMW step won't permit shifing into a gear that shouldn't be shifted into.
What do you think about the interest rates - are you still comfortable with the short-term adjustable that you refinanced with? I can get about 7% on the 30-year fixed while the short-term adjustables (like 1/1 and 3/1) are closer to 5 1/4 but it may not be worth the risk for us, as we are planning on staying in the house for 10+ years.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Best Regards,
Shipo
When going in long, steep downhills the benefit is not so much reduced wear on your breaks as the fact that if you use the engine to break you lessen the risk of over heating your breaks (and probably lose them all together).
I drive the roads from Lake Tahoe to Sacramento frequently, I almost always see a couple of big-rigs pulled over with smoking brakes (luckily I haven't seen one actually loose their brakes so far).
Doesn't beat the 5.9% on my 3er though.
Shipo - I guess the LIBOR would be too risky on a mortgage?
That said, I do not think that the LIBOR is at all risky. Do we plan on being here in 10 years (the length of the ARM)? Maybe 50-50. We are as likely to move in two months as we are likely to stay here for 30 more years. I figure that given closing costs and such, it will take about 6 months to offset our cash outlay for the re-fi. So, to me, the only risk is if we happen to decide to pack up and move sometime this summer.
Best Regards,
Shipo
nyccarguy...it's sent--thx!:-)
I've always thought that the best drivers used engine braking as the best and fastest way to get into (and come out of a turn). When I was in England on foreign study in college, my English friend had a mid-'80s VW GTI. He used to drive those hedge-lined, 60 MPH hairpins without ever touching the brake. Scared the crap out of me, but it sure was fun. I was in awe of his shifting prowess. I've always been too chicken to put that kind of strain on my own car, though I use engine braking alot on hills, especially in my automatic.
Also, tapping your brakes right before the turn help resettle your chassis, thus achieving better turn.
I would guess both racks attach the same way; four 5mm (est.) bolts that screw into the holes in your 325xi roof. I would probably use two people to avoid scratching paint when you install or remove the rack.
I don't think the Thule tandem rack would fit in the BMW cross pieces, but I see no compelling reason to try, just get the Thule cross bars and mounts.
Again, there's probably nothing wrong with the BMW racks, but the Thule rack should provide more versatility and the accessories can be used on other makes of vehicles.
-murray
Which is less expensive? Replace your transmission or change your brake pads? Even rotating the rotors is pretty cheap. Your transmission is designed to accelerate the car. Your brakes are designed to efficiently decelerate and stop the car.
This is esp. true for automatics. My dad used to love to do this, esp. with automatic cars. Despite my repeated protestations and warnings, he blew the auto trannys in his '68 Lincoln, '69 Buick, '88 Sable and his '93 Concorde. He has thankfully now learned his lesson and stopped downshifting his transmission to brake! In same time my mom has never blown any of her trannys.
BTW, one thing I learned is that women pick the house, not the men. I thought I was having a bigger say into the decision because I spent more time researching the real estate market but the final decision was mostly hers. All three of us are happy, though!!!
Why can't you brake hard as necessary and then downshift to accelerate out?
Let the brakes brake the car and then use the accelerator and transmission to accelerate.
Think how hard it is on a transmission to use it to bleed much speed off. And the engine. Just watch watch happens to the tach when you use tranny to brake much. And think of the wear on both engine (as you overrev) and tranny (as it tries to absorb and pass off the energy stress).
I lift the accelerator early to slow down but never row down thought the gears to stop. The time it takes to shift from one gear to the next lower one negates the extra stopping power of the lower gear.
A reasonable guideline is: don't downshift into a gear unless you want to accelerate using that gear. For turning into our street, I keep the clutch engaged in 4th while braking and then shift into 2nd just before turning into the street. Transitioning from one high-speed highway to another, I'll shift into 4th to help slow down before the exit ramp and then use that gear (or possibly third if I have to slow too much) to enter the next. On all high-speed down shifts, I'll spin up the gears by double-clutching and match engine speed as closely as possible.
I do use third gear going down the hill to our house but don't need to shift into any other gear to reach the garage (provided I hit the garage door opener before the mailbox).
I used to downshift more to slow the car down on my RX-7 until I had to replace the clutch not as much anymore.
As allano said, I do downshift into the gear I want to be in when I exit a turn. I do so with adequate time to get my hands and feet into position for the turn.
On a related note, how many of you rev the engine a little just before you let the clutch out when down shifting in order to help match engine and transmission speed? I think I picked this up from my motorcycle riding days. I assume this is a good thing, but I guess no one ever taught this to me.
-murray
The only time that I rely exclusively on “Engine Braking” is when descending a long hill where the engine can control the cars’ speed without excess RPMs. As it turns out, even that usage of engine braking has its pit-falls, twice in the last 6-months, I found myself sideways when I really was not expecting it, and DSC did nothing to help. Both times occurred when I was descending a hill, and by habit, I was using engine braking to keep the speed in check, however, the roads were also covered in very heavy, wet and slippery snow. It was akin to how the instructor in a spin training class induces a spin by pulling parking brake; only you could not see the instructor pulling the handle. In my case, each time, given how comfortable I was with the stability of the 328i in the heavy stuff, I was caught off guard, and had to go through a rapid analytical process of “Why am I spinning?” Both times, the answer was simple, “Press the clutch, Stupid!” Sure enough, both times, the car straightened right out.
Best Regards,
Shipo
For the most part, I drove about 95mph on the highways, and about 105mph while following other autobahn cruisers. It rained virtually every day, and it seems strange to think that I was bombing around at 90+mph in the rain. The rain-sensor works very well! My personal top-speed was about 120mph between Grenoble and Geneva, though I have been up to 136mph in a rental in northern Germany. No PRs this trip. I averaged about 23mpg doing a steady 95mph on the highway. I wish the fuel tank was larger!
I didn't feel the xenon's were appreciably better than stock halogens on my previous 540i, and I would have appreciated a rear foglight which is standard equipment in foggy europe.
Saw only one other 330Xi with Belgium tags, and didn't believe all the 3 series vehicles that were silver. Virtually 80+% of them were silver. I had grey. In fact, it seems that 80+% of BMWs, MBs, and Audis were silver.
Anyway, the car was rocksolid, and I'll miss it for the next 4 weeks during its trip from Paris to the US. Drop-off was very easy, as the EH Harms agent in Paris was just on the other side of the Arc De Triomphe from my hotel.
I quickly glanced over some of the recent posts, and wanted to say that my experience is that the spread between invoice and MSRP is about the same for US or Euro delivery. I got about $2500 off for euro delivery, 7%, and an additional $1250 off that amount, for a total of about $3750. Your mileage may vary. As for tires, I have always, assumed that you would need to replace a set under a lease. Rather than replace a set right before turning it in, I do it about halfway during the lease life. That way, I maximize the use of the good rubber. I buy 3 new tires from TireRack. Why 3? Well, I use the new tire in the wheel well. Add that to the 3 new ones, and you get 4 new tires. Then I take the best of the 4 tires I'm replacing, and stick it in the spare wheel well. You need 1/8th of an inch on your tires to return them under a lease, and it's easy to do, if you manage your tires. My experience, is if you do it the way I do, you can enjoy driving your leased BMW quite hard, and not feel any regrets about giving back new tires at the end of the lease. Besides, something to never scrimp upon are tires. They improve safety and driving enjoyment. No one should ever get bent out of shape buying good rubber. They may save your life.
nyccarguy: when you sit behind one in a staging area, you'll like it too.
On the only automatic in our family (soon to be replaced with a manual), I like to drop its transmission into D2 (at slow speed after turning into the street) at the top of our hill to prevent the car from building too much speed by the time it reaches our house.
We are considering buying a 325 sedan. Can anyone share experiences/recommendations as to dealers in the Washington DC-MD-Northern Virginia area? Thanks in advance.
Bob
+ Fun !
+ Reliable !
+ Great performance !
- Wheels get dirty from brake dust quickly - any suggestions ?
- I feel compelled to park far away in parking lots to avoid door dings
- Birds are targetting my car almost daily
postoak-Where do you plan to drop your car off in Europe?
I grew up in Sarasota and, after deciding not to attend a women's college, became a GATOR! I have a sister who is a Semihole and still have not forgiven her. Aren't you going to miss the Bowden/Spurrier tiffs? I think we're screwed for a couple of years---got killed in this year's recruiting class. (Note: To those who didn't grow up in Florida, please bear with us. There is some awfully sick psychology involved.)
ButMyWife says: Go Gators!
One of the draw backs to having great braking power is brake dust.
Original estimated delivery date was 3/30 per the BMWUSA Owner's Circle web-site. Was shipped from SA on 2/26 with scheduled arrival in NJ on 3/25. Actually arrived in NJ on 3/27. Got a surprise e-mail from my salesman on 3/29 saying that it had been released to the carrier and should be at dealer by Monday, 4/1! Too good to be true; somebody screwed-up! It didn't actually arrive at the VPC until 4/2! Yesterday BMWNA said that it should ship within two days (i.e., 4/4). Today they say it might be a week until it is released to the carrier--4/9! Then a couple of days to get to my dealer and a couple of more days for them to mess with it!!!
I'm going to look at Acura CLs at lunch--more car for the money. Can anyone tell me why I shouldn't just buy one and drive it home tonight?
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD